Apparatus for strickling molds



A. A. TUNLEY APPARATUS FOR STRICKLING MOLDS IIIFI) May 30, 1950 FiledDeo. 11. 1944 gw l Egli.

May 30, 1950 A. A. TUNLEY APPARATUS FOR sTRrcxLNG Moms 4 Sheets-Sheet 2:

Filed neo. 11, 1944 May 30, 1950 A. A. TUNLEY 2,509,322

APPARATUS FOR STRICKLING Moms Filed Dec. 11, 1944 v 4 sheets-sheet 3 May3o, V195o A. A. TuNLl-:Y

APPARATUS FoR STRICKLING Moms 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Deo. ll, 19441-2301225504@ /f Ji ,Tazaey Patented May 30, 1950 APPARATUS FORSTRICKLING MOLDS Allan Ashmead Tunley, Peterborough, England,

assignor to Baker Perkins Limited, Peterborough, England ApplicationDecember 11, 1944, Serial No. 567,718 In Great Britain December 22, 194319 Claims. (CL 107-8) This invention relates to chocolate or other mouldor like trays (hereinafter referred to as moulds) and to conveying andstrickling means, such as employed in automatic or semi-automatic orconveying plant Where after a deposit of chocolate or other material inthe moulds the surplus is strickled oil level with the mould edges.

In known machines of the kind above indicated (as employed forchocolate) the moulds are automatically strickled as they are conveyedbeneath a xed strickling blade with the result that the surplus materialstrickled olf is discharged over the trailing edge or lip of each mouldin turn and delivered between and below the conveyor chains. Thisarrangement is unsatisfactory owing to the liability of soiling theworking parts and also because of the inconvenience of access to thedelivered surplus material. Similar difficulties are encountered where apowdered material is concerned, such as for example in starch mouldingplant for confectionery.

An aim of the present invention is to avoid the above objections and toprovide a mould mounting and strickling arrangement adapted to deliversurplus material in a manner affording ready access and cleanliness.

The strickling effect.

According to the invention strickling is eiected in the direction of thelength of each mould and transversely to the direction of mould conveyortravel.

The invention consists in a strickling arrangement wherein thestrickling means is given a transverse movement obliquely across thepath of the moulds, the movement comprising a component in the directionof said path and at the same rate as the mould travel so that thestrickling and the mould travel displacements synchronize.

The invention also consists in a strickling arrangement Wherein thestrickling means are given a continuous movement in an endless pathtransverse to the mould conveyor path.

The invention further consists in a strickling arrangement as defined ineither of the two preceding paragraphs wherein strickling blades aredisposed longitudinally of the mould path and moved transversely thereofin succession.

The invention further comprises a transverse strickling arrangementhaving a strickling station provided with a receiving and deliveryplatform or chute disposed at the side of the mould conveyor at whichthe stricklers discharge, the platform being preferably vibrated bymeans in coninvention also affords an improved tact with the adjacentchain (for example the platform may be hinged and have a riding blockresting on the chain rollers) to assist inthe travel of the dischargedmaterial over the platform.

According to the preferred arrangement where mould carriers are employedupon the chains, the carrier slideways terminate lengthwise, short ofthe vertical plane of the chain path on the strickling discharge sideand the platform referred to above overlaps the adjacent conveyor chain.It is also preferred that the moulds should project slightly beyondtheir carrier ends on the discharge side with a view to enabling theadjacent edge of the platform to lie under the discharge lip of themould.

Means may be provided which are adapted resiliently to press thestrickler means into operative contact with bearers upon the moulds orassociated parts.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a diagrammatic plan showingthe angular relation of the path of the strickler and the path of themoulds,

Figure 2 is a plan of the strickler with the cover removed,

Figure 3 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a partial cross section transversely of the mould conveyor,

Figure 5 is a view of a detail,

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are detail views showing the driving of the stricklerconveyor from the mould conveyor, and

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are views of the strickler means on an enlargedscale.

In carrying the invention into eiect accordingto one mode, as describedby way of example as applied to a chocolate moulding plant employing acontinuously travelling mould conveyor and where, for instance, a nallayer of chocolate is deposited upon a biscuit or other filler insertedin previously deposited chocolate in each of the moulds, the mouldconveyor chains I are provided with mould carriers 2 into which themoulds 3 slide transversely of the chains in known manner. Thelongitudinal edges 3a, that is to say the edges of the moulds which lieat right-angles to the mould conveyor path, are formed to serve asbearers or bearing means for the strickling means or elements asreferred to below. The longitudinal sides of the moulds 3 are providedwith ribs for engaging and sliding in the carrier slideway grooves inknown manner.

The carriers 2 lengthwise terminate short of the chain path on the sideon which delivery of inward of the chain path and are connected to thechain links by angle irons v or other suitable means. Releasable lockingclips oi known type may be provided for retaining the moulds 3 in theoperative position in the carriers 2.

The moulds 3 are slightly longer than the carriers 2 so that when pushedhome they extend somewhat beyond the ends of the carriers on thedelivery side and provide a slightly overhanging discharge lip 3b.

A strickling stationpis located in a suitable position along the chainor conveyor path. Atthis station andover the chains a series of*stricklers` or elements' 6 is mounted by the aid of s ide frameslarranged` parallel with the mould conveyor and connectedA by stretcherrods 2l. Each of these stricklers comprise a strickling blade 'IVsupported in the manner described below and carried by a pair of`endless conveyor chains i)v located in spaced vertical planes so thatthe stricklers are caused to travel in a closed path. As viewed in plan,see Figure 1, the strckling endless conveyor provided by the chains 8and stricklers 6 is disposed transversely of and obliquely to the pathof travel a--a of the mould conveyor, the strickler chains 8 beingpreferably located vat an angle thereto which may conveniently reside inthe neighbourhood of 48. The chains at each of'their turning points arecarried by chain wheels il,k the axes of which may be located`conveniently adjacent the vertical plane of the'path of the mouldconveyor `chains I so that '(in plan) the strickler chain wheels d oneach side of the mould path are staggered. Three of the chain Wheels Sare mounted in stub shafts 2,2V supportedin bearing brackets 23.Thebearings 23'are` carried by angle bars 24 supported by. pillars 25from the frames 20. The fourth chain wheel 9 is' secured to `a cross.shaft 2,6 having bearings 21 carried by, the angle 2d. An invertedjockey chain wheel It may be provided forv each of the strickler chains8 "tfact uponthe upper or return lap of the chains andvmaintain'suitable tension. rIhe-jockey chain. wheels are [carried bypivote'd arms `II which Vare connected by a transverse link I2.

In anyfsuitable position above or below a mould conveyor chain I (forexample on the delivery side and in the vicinity of the dischargestation) a'c'hain pinion I3, mounted on a` stub shaft I4, mounted inabracket 28, meshes with the mould chain Ifor thepurpose of communicatinga driveY from such chain to the endless strickler chainsV 8. The stubshaft I4 carries a bevel or other gear 29` which through theintermediary of suitable gearing drives the pair of chain wheels at thedelivery end of the strickler conveyor. Such intermediate gear comprisesa bevel gear Sii to which is secured a chainwheel 3I driving through achain 32 a chain wheel 33 on the cross shaft 2t, thus driving the fourthwheel 9 above mentioned and the chain 8V associated therewith. The otherchain'V is driven from the cross shaft 25 by the chain wheel 34, chain3.5 and dhain wheel 35 which latter drives the associated chain wheel 9.

As shown the pinion I'3 engages the mould 4 chain I from below and aguard rail 58 is provided to prevent the chain rising out of engagementwith the pinion.

Each strickling means or element 6 comprises an open-fronted box-likearrangement 3l at the back of which is provided a steel or othersuitable strickling blade 1 secured by set screws or other means'to therear wall or part of the box. The ends of the box serve laterally toconfine chocolate removed by the strickler and prevent -itsspreadingoutward of the strickling path.

Uponvthe upper side of the strickling box 31 a pair of headedpi-ns orplungers 38 are provided and between the heads thereof and the box, thepins are provided with helical springs 3S so that .any pressurebroughtto bear upon the heads is transmitted. resiliently to the box.IThe pins are spaced. on the strickling box in the plane of cam railsfill carried by transverse angles 4I supported by the angles 2li, therails 46 being mounted at an elevation such that when thestricklers 6 intheir travel cause the headed pins 38 to engage the cam rails lid theyare slightly depressed andcause the strickling blade 1 to be resilientlypressed upon the bearer surfaces of the mouldv 3- on which it isoperating.

f Each ystrickling b ox 31L has at each end a cranked or bent arm 45 bymeans of which it is connected to the appropriate links of 4the-strcklerchains 8., the arrangement being such thatv theV strickler blades 'l lieat an angle to thestrick-ler chains 'rand are parallel to the directionoir4 traveloi" the mould conveyor. By arranging thestrickler conveyor atan angle to the mould conveyor of the kind specified above and bysuitablyspacing the strickling means VIi at intervals-on the stricklerconveyor chains, a pluralityY or series of' moulds are strickled insuccession, or in other Words the strickling blades 'I operatein alongitudinal series in succession upon the moulds asthey aretraversedthrough the strickling station by their conveyor. According to onearrangementV and'spacing ofthe stricklingfmeans, see Figure 1, thesequence is such that when the foremosts-trickler 6a. is terminating itsstrickling eiect upon one mould 3 6 the next strickler 6b is in the midposition in strickling the next following mould 6l, while a Vthirdstrickler 6c is aboutV to" commence its strickling traverse of' a thirdmouldI dit.

It will be appreciated that the number of strioklers operatingsimultaneously upon the moulds may be varied to suit the size and/orpitch of thewmouldsor other conditions.

AtV the end of' the strickling path on the disn charge side, a receivingandv delivery platform or platellis'hingedly mounted by a bracket 56upon a part o'ttheirame ofthe apparatus or attached to the supportingrails 5i for' the mould chains I. Qn the underside the plate Y49 isprovided with abearer block 524 which has one or more slight cam-likeprojections 53, adapted to ride upon the rollersfof' the adjacent mould'chain l4 with the` result that as the chain travels along, the hingedplate 49 is jvoghguled` o r vibrated to promote the flow of` thechocolate discharged upon the plate by the stricklers 6, downwardly awayfrom themould conveyor into any suitable collecting receptacle. The'endA ofv the plate 5.9 remote from the hinge` isadapted-to overlie theflange extension brackets!` ofthecarriers 2 as they pass along andunderlie the end 3b off the mould 3 which projects, as noted above,slightly beyond the. end: of; the carrier. rlhe extremity Iidfofl theplate may have-an upturned lip, if desired, to prevent any retrogradespilling of the discharged chocolate.

As an alternative to vibrating the plate to assist the movement of thedischarged chocolate the plate may be provided with a mechanicallyoperated scraper.

At the opposite end of the strickler conveyor path a hinge plate orplatform 54 is provided which overlies the adjacent mould chain I andrests upon the adjacent end of each carrier 2 in turn. The carrier endsmay be recessed, if necessary, to accommodate the end of the plate sothat the upper surface thereof lies flush with the bearer surface on themould 3 for the strickler blades l. This platform 54 constitutes aconvenient and smooth lead-on for the strickler blades l as theyterminate their travel around their turning point and commence theiroblique strickling path.

The ratio oi the gearing from the chain wheel I3 driven by the mouldchain I is such that the rate of progression in the direction of thecomponent of movement of the strickler blades 1 aligned with the mouldpath is the same as the mould travel. Thus although the stricklers 6travel obliquely across the mould path each strickler travels from endto end of the mould upon which it operates, in synchronism with theforward movement thereof.

Cover means 55 may lbe provided to enclose the strickling apparatus, andsuitable heating means 55 may be located adjacent the return path of thestricklers to maintain them at a suitable temperature.

A removable drip tray 51 is mounted upon the cross angles ill to receiveany chocolate that may drop from the stricklers as they move along theirreturn lap.

I claim:

1. Means for strickling a plurality of moulds which are moving on acontinuously travelling mould conveyor, comprising a plurality ofstrickling elements each mounted to move across each mould in a pathoblique to the direction of mould travel, with a component of travel inthe same direction therewith to deliver excess of material strickledfrom the moulds at the side of the mould conveyor and means for drivingeach strickling element at a rate such that a component of its movementis equal to the rate of travel of the mould strickled thereby, wherebythe displacements of the strickling element and mould synchronize.

2. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdened in and by claim 1 wherein a plurality of strickling elements movein an endless path oblique to`the direction of travel of the moulds.

3. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdened in and by claim 1, comprising an endless conveyor for supportingthe strickling elements, said conveyor being movable in an endless pathoblique to the direction of travel of the moulds and said elements beingspaced apart a distance whereby successive strickling elementssynchronize with and strickle successive moulds.

, 4. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdefined in and by claim 1, in which said conveyor includes endlessdriving chains to which the moulds are connected, an endless conveyor onwhich the strickling elements are mounted, said last mentioned conveyorbeing movable in an endless path oblique to the direction of mouldtravel, said elements lying parallel to the direction of mould travel,said endless conveyor for the strickling elements including drivingchains mounted parallel to said oblique path and connected to the endsof said elements and means for driving said last mentioned chains fromone of the mould conveyor chains.

5. Means for strickling themoulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdefined in and by claim 1 including a platform located at the side ofthe mould conveyor to receive said excess material strickled from themoulds.

6. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdefined in and by claim 1 in which the mould conveyor includes endlessdriving chains to which the moulds are connected, a platform located atthe side of the mould conveyor adjacent one of said driving chains toreceive said excess material strickled from the moulds, and meanscontacting with the said adjacent driving chain for vibrating theplatform to facilitate discharge of said material.

7. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdefined in and by claim 1, in which the mould conveyor includes endlessdriving roller chains to which the moulds are secured, a hinged platformlocated at the side of the mould conveyor adjacent one of said rollerchains to receivesaid excess material strickled from the moulds, a camblock mounted on the platform and contacting the rollers of the saidadjacent mould conveyor chain for vibrating the platform to facilitatedischarge of said material.

8. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdened in and by claim l in which the mould conveyor includes endlessside driving chains, mould carriershaving slideways connected to saidchains, said slideways terminating short of the vertical plane of theconveyor chain on the strickling discharge side, and a hinged platformlocated at said side to receive said excess material strickled from themoulds, said platform overlapping said conveyor chain adjacent thereto.

9. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdefined in and by claim 1 in which the mould conveyor includes endlessside driving chains, mould carriers having slideways connected to saidchains, said slideways terminating short of the vertical plane of theconveyor chains on the strickling discharge side, moulds supported onsaid carriers and projecting beyond said carriers on said dischargeside, and. a hinged platform located at said discharge side to receivesaid excess material strickled from the moulds as they pass saidplatform, said platform overlapping the adjacent mould conveyor chainand underlying said projecting portions of the mould.

10. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdefined in and by claim 1 in which the mould conveyor includes endlessside driving chains, a pair of spaced endless chains mounted above themould conveyor and lying in planes parallel to said oblique path, aseries of strickling elements lying parallel to the direction of travelof said conveyor, crank arms connecting said elements to said secondmentioned endless chains, said elements being spaced from one anotherand at the end of their strickling operation passing upwardly on thereturn lap of said second mentioned endless chains.

11. Means for strickling the moulds of a travelling mould conveyor asdened in and by claim 1 wherein bearing means are provided on the mouldsand wherein resilient means are provided for resiliently pressing thestrickling elements anca-32a into contact;l withv f the said; bearing.-means on. .the mould'sl.

1,2.v .Means for strickling;theffmouldssot a, trav-1 ellingniouldgconveyonas.denedairrandgbyfclaiml wherein. eaclr stricklingyelement comprises an; open-iront boni-like. structura. the; open. front.facing. the. direction;Y of traveli thereofl.. and: said box-likestructure having arearfwallcomprising astrickling blade..

1.3.. Mea-ns for strickling't'he moulds ofiaftravela ling mould conveyorasdenedsiir and bvclaiml,V comprising a. ser-ies1ofi spaced, strickling;blades movable inI a,` closed; path.- in. a vertical` planeA oblique tothel direction. oftravel. of. the.; moulds.` the spacing. of4 themouldsl onthe mould conveyor, andthe spacing of; successive stricklingblades being such that-.three successive: blades:t are. in operation,the firstv being at; the end of. its; strickling. movement with.relation.- to one mould, the secondibladerbeing halfway.l acrossthe:next adjacent mould, and the third'blade being; atthe commencement of:its;stricl:lingu action'. With the succeeding mould'.

1.4. Meansfor stricklingthe.-moulds:fofr a. trav elling mould conveyoras denedin andby claim 1 inwhich themould conveyor includes endless,sideldriving chains, a series ofispacedistrickling elements movable inaclosedpath ini avertical plane oblique to the directionofi travel; of;the.y mould conveyor, saidv elementsalying-parallel to; the directionof.` mould travel, side. driving: chains. towhich the saidelementsarezconnectedaz cross shaft,l sprockets thereon for. drivingrsaid' second mentioned chains, and` gearing.;y for driving said. crossshaft from onel of; the.` mould" conveyorn chains, said gearingincluding; meshingg bevel gears and a sprocket engaging.: said conveyorchain,- one of;` said bevel gears being. connected. forfrotat-ion. withsaid 4secondamentioned. sprocket.

i5. Apparatus .for strickling-.mouldsand ion dis.- charging Y strickledmaterial therefrom.y including. a continuously traveling. mouldconveyor;. a plus rality of moulds thereon each includingsspacedopposite sides, eachparallel tozthedirectionof travel of the conveyor,said' conveyor: including drivenrmeans-.moving the same zandfthe vmouldsin a-.predeterminedpathnof;travel; movablestrickling means mounted :to:travel inv a path obliquey to; the line of travel .off the mould.conveyor: andl hav.- ing a: component-.oftravelin the samefdirectiontherewith, saidV stricklingmeans: moving.y across the@ moulds fromA one.of;l said v oppositesides. to the: other as: thesame are moving.: to,remove eXcessmaterial therefrom and discharge .the same.laterallysthereofg means .for drivingfsaid-str-ickling means at a ratevsuchV that. a; component. off its travel is equalvto-thef rateof'travelof: themoulds so as` to synchronizev the` displacement.; of rthe strickling.meansandeach mould-.and excess mae terial receiving meansdisposedA in the, oblique pathof travelf ofi said striclrling meansA andmounted atthe discharge side'- offsaidistrickling means and disposedfbeneath a plane. passing through =the`bottom of said moulds'.

16; Apparatus for stricklingmoulds.. including a continuously`traveling. mould conveyorsinclud'r ing endless drivenmeans;y a'`plurality. of moulds thereon. movable therewith in; a: predeterminedpath of'` travel L and each mould 'including spa-ced opposite sides eachparallelfto; thee. direction. of travellof the conveyor,movablewstrickling:means mounted toV travelinapath oblique tothe lineof= travelr of the` mould conveyor.` with acompa.- nentof: travell in`the.l same direction. therewith,

8.; from; one;` orsaid oppositeisidesttmthecther while. the mould ismovingito;removelexcessmaterial therefromand v.discharge the-saxnelaterally:of. the mould; excessv material-.receivingmeanslmounted,in. the.; oblique. path.l of. travel of; said strickling means andoverlapping said endlessdrvenmeans and; being disposed .beneaththefdischarge. sideof eachA passing monld,.meansfior` vibrating saidex.- cess material removing. meansincluding. means mounted; thereonlandcoopeiating with .said endless. drivemmeans. to receive. Vibratory.movement therefrom to .facilitate discharge. of the. material,andrdrivinglneans fory saidtstricklingmeans operativelvsconnected twithisaid.. endless driven means toreceivey power thereiromtodrivesaidstrickling means. at. a rate; such that; a.. component of. itstravel is .equal tothe rateuofptravelof the.. moulds. so as to.synchronize. the displacement.. of. the strickling means and each mould.

L7.. Apparatus for, striekling moulds; including a.` mould conveyor.including. endless driveechains, a. plurality. of; moulds., thereonLeaelr including spaced oppositesideseach parallel'to thedirection oftravel of theconveyor, strickling. means including; conveying. means;passing over said moulds. in.V a, pathl oblique. tothe line. of traveltothe mould; conveyor. and;with a...component. of movement; inthe; same.direction, as the. line; of travel of the moulds,.spacedstrickling..elements carried by said conveying means; said elements being, disposed;obliquely. witlnrespectto the sec..-ondmentionedlconveyonandparallelwith,theline o travel. of'the moulds,meanszfory driving the second mentioned conveying. means atparate suchthat.: a. component; of itsl` movement; combined with the spacing.Vbetvveentlie.l elements4 is equal to.. the rate oft travel, of: amo.uldso-thatjone elefment moves from one of said oppositeasidesof a. mould tothe other to remove excess material therefrom,- Whilef the. mould. is,passing. beneath said.second.mentioned .conveying-means, the. said drivemeans for: theesecond'- mentioned conveying. means including asprocketimountedzbeneath one. oisaid endless rdrivefchains andengageablethere.- with so as to .bedriventherebm 18. ApparatusV of the typedescribedincludingf a movablamould havingexcess: material therein andincluding spaced-opposite sideseachparallel to the directionof movementoffthemould; amoV-L able stricklingfelement; meanssupporting the.element for movement across the: mould'. in: aV path obliquetdtheline-off travel'.` oftheImould and with a component of travelin-Ythessame direc-Y tion therewith; andldriving means for said elementmov-ing the same in'I s-ynchronism: with the mouldswhereby thelelementmoves fromone: of said oppositesides ofl the-mouldtothe other to removeexcess material therefromat theY side thereof While-the mould ismoving.

19: Apparatus. off `theY type described i includinga-mouldhhaving:excesslmaterial therein: and in.- cluding spacedoppcsitesides.. each-parallel to the direction off movement of the? mould,endless drivenlmeans supporting `the samev i'orfmovelnent in apredetermined line= of: travel, a". movable strickling'Y element; means,supporting the lelement for movement across the mould-tina. pathzobliquetof theI line of. travel of= the .mould and.' with a componentoffmovement in the same direction therewith, driving. means-gior the.Asaid. element moving. the ..same .inesynchronismzwith the mould whereby:theelementzmovesgffrom .011e 0f said 0pposite sides.. of:tlriexfmoulcl;to.` theotherto remove excess materialftherefromtozdschargthe same saidlstrickling;means/moving; across: eachy mould at;the said `other: side thereof'` as the mouldis moving, and a platformoverlapping said driven UNITED STATES PATENTS means lying in saidoblique path of movement Number Name Date and beneath the discharge sideof the mould to 1 385 462 Marvin et aL July 26 1921 receive said excessmaterial to prevent the same 2283838 Williams May 19 1942 from fallinginto said driven means.

ALLAN ASHMEAD TUNLEY. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date REFERENCESCITED 614,710 Germany June 17, 1935 The following references are ofrecord in the le of this patent: 10

